Andrew Harrison

Dominic Zaki is no stranger to South African racing and after starting on the Highveld he moved to  Mauritius where he was one of the leading trainers. However, after all the upheaval in the island’s racing, for some reason Zaki was not granted a renewal of his license and was forced to move back to South Africa and has relocated to Summerveld.

He has yet to have a winner since his return but that could all change at an expected cooler Hollywoodbets Scottsville TOday where he saddles Talk To The Master in the Non-Black Type Fever Tree Stakes, headliner on a competitive ten-race programme.

Talk To The Master arrived in his yard with some smart Cape form to his credit behind the likes of Snow Pilot,  Great Plains and Gem King. He made a promising debut for his new stable last month and can get Zaki off the mark since his arrival in KZN.

JP’S Palace strikes as a possible threat. Darryl Moore’s runner has been consistent in the lower divisions but comes into the race off a light weight and first time cheek pieces. Cymric is a recent addition to the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard and has a wide draw to contend with but he has been coming to hand slowly. He has also been useful and steps up in trip after a narrow loss last time out and he looks primed. Peter Muscutt has been quiet locally with his recent focus on Cape Town but Dylan’s Champ made a promising debut first up for the stable and first time blinkers. He is smart on his day. Madison Valley made no show in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup but prior to that won well over a distance many thought would be too short. He has his first run for a new stable.

Punters face a highly competitive card. First leg of the Place Accumulator could go the way of Day Two who has come on nicely and was touched off over course and distance last time out. On that showing he has the measure of a few others in the field. The filly Spanish Feud may be a threat as she has shown signs of coming to hand. She was a well-beaten third last outing but the blinkers are back on, the trip should suit and Keagan de Melo stays with the ride. Quicksmart  goes this distance for the first time but made a fair local debut. If he stays the trip he could threaten.

The first leg of the Pick 6 could go the way of Curious Girl. The De Kock’s were of the opinion that she may have needed her last run but she won. Given that she is lightly raced and won well first up after a break the outing should have brought her on a little more over a trip that should suit with a handy galloping weight. She won’t have it easy. Spectacular is holding form and stays the trip and should make his presences felt. Past And Present has run well over this trip in the Cape. He has shown up well in two smart outings for his new stable and can follow up. Hodgepodge is back over an ideal trip and gets first time blinkers.

The fifth is a competitive handicap but Banzai Pipeline has been running consistently well but switches to the turf. However, he takes on a modest line-up and should feature in spite of the change of surface. I Am Classy has come to hand at recent outings and had a wide draw last run. He takes on slightly weaker. Cool Wind has shown steady form since her maiden win and could improve further over this trip while Basie Raakvat  is always dangerous and has shown up well at long odds in his last two.

The sixth is another tricky handicap with many in with chances but Sonata Samaritan has only been out of the money twice in ten outings. She has gone very close at her last two and Rachel Venniker’s allowance could make all the difference. Prom Queen has been consistent of late and her last win was over the distance but she has a fair weight. Highveld visitor Lady Sabrina is Weiho and Wesley Marwing’s only runner on the day  comes with steady form. She also benefits from Mickaella Michel’s allowance which is definitely in her favour. Stable companions Grand Occasion and Rani Tarabai have both drawn wide. The latter is 4kg better off with her stable companion given their last meeting and S’Manga Khumalo looks to be on the ‘right’ one of the pair.

Mark Dixon saddles Jazz Festival in another wide open handicap but the gelding has been knocking at the door for some time now. He drops in class and although taking a corresponding rise in weight he does have the best of the draw. Mississippi Spice was a good second behind Mountainsofthemoon when last they met and the former is now 1.5kg better off and can turn the tables. Vencedor showed up well at long odds first run out of the maidens and has a much better draw this time around . Sword Speed is back from a break but has two smart efforts to his name. He may just need it but cannot be left out of any exotics.

Dixon could have a double with Cleartherunway in the final leg of the Pick 6 in another competitive handicap. The gelding has shown up well in two starts out of the maidens and meets Cowdray Park on 2.5kg better terms and can turn the tables although the latter is climbing the handicap slowly and has a chance of a hattrick. Industrialstrength has his third run back after a spell in the Cape. He was a beaten favourite at his last two and can go one better. Mister Nibbles started at long odds last run but showed up well behind winner Magma Magic and is now 5kg better off in the handicap. Harun Al Rashid has a difficult draw to contend with but is useful on his day and this trip suits.

RACE 1

2 BEST OF ALL   1 PLACE OF PRACTICE   7 GOOD OMEN   8 SAIL THE HORIZON

Summary: This could rest between stable companions BEST OF ALL (2) and PLACE OF PRACTICE (1) both trained by Gareth van Zyl. Best Of All started favourite on debut but found one too good. He should come on from that run. Place Of Practice has finished runner-up at his last two and Sean Veale rides for Hollywood Racing. GOOD OMEN (7) was a beaten favourite in an Open Maiden last run giving the winner 7kg in what was a smart effort. SAIL THE HORIZON (8) has not been two far back with both starts behind in the soft. He can come on from that. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-7-8).

RACE 2

9 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA   2 TAYLOR’S VERSION   13 WARRIOR ROSE   3 MISS DANON

Summary: SPIRIT OF SHIMLA (9) has been knocking at the door. She was a close-up second over the trip last time out. TAYLOR’S VERSION (2) has shown consistent Cape form. Cape form tends to stand up well in KZN and she should make a bold bid. WARRIOR ROSE (13) is lightly raced and does appear to have issues with lengthy breaks between her two starts. She comes off a rest from a wide draw but the stable is in form. MISS DANON (3) has shown some recent improvement and can do better over this shorter trip. (Andrew Harrison: 9-2-13-3).

RACE 3

1 DAY TWO   3 SPANISH FEUD   4 QUICKSMART   8 WILLIAM OF ORANGE

Summary: DAY TWO (1) has come on nicely and was touched off over course and distance last time out. On that showing he has the measure of a few others in the field. The filly SPANISH FEUD (3) has shown signs of coming to hand. She was a well-beaten third last outing but the blinkers are back on, the trip should suit and Keagan de Melo stays with the ride. QUICKSMART (4) goes this distance for the first time but made a fair local debut. If he stays the trip he could threaten. WILLIAM OF ORANGE (8) jumps in trip but has Callan Murray aboard and may be worth watching in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-4-8).

RACE 4

7 CURIOUS GIRL   6 PAST AND PRESENT   5 SPECTACULAR   8 HODGEPODGE

Summary: CURIOUS GIRL (7) is lightly raced and won well first up after a break. That run should have brought her on a little more over a trip that should suit with a handy galloping weight. SPECTACULAR (5) is holding form well and stays the trip. He should make his presences felt. PAST AND PRESENT (6) has run well over this trip in the Cape. He has shown up well in two smart for his new stable and can follow up. HODGEPODGE (8) is back over an ideal trip and gets first time blinkers. RODRIGUEZ (9) has gone off a little at his last two but is back over a suitable trip. (Andrew Harrison: 7-6-5-8).

RACE 5

6 BANZAI PIPELINE   5 I AM CLASSY   1 COOL WIND   10 BASIE RAAKVAT

Summary: Competitive handicap. Veteran BANZAI PIPELINE (6) has been running consistently but switches to the turf. However, he takes on a modest line-up and should feature. I AM CLASSY (5) has come to hand at recent outings. He had a wide draw last run and takes on slightly weaker here. COOL WIND (1) has shown steady form since her maiden win and could improve further over this trip. BASIE RAAKVAT (10) is always dangerous and has shown up well at long odds in his last two. (Andrew Harrison: 6-5-1-10).

RACE 6

8 SONATA SAMARITAN   9 PROM QUEEN   11 LADY SABRINA   13 RANI TARABAI

Summary: Tricky handicap with many in with chances. SONATA SAMARITAN (8) has only been out of the money twice in ten outings. She has gone very close at her last two and Rachel Venniker’s allowance could make all the difference. PROM QUEEN (9) has been consistent of late and her last win was over the distance. She has a fair weight. LADY SABRINA (11) comes with steady Highveld form. She also benefits from Mickaella Michel’s allowance which is definitely in her favour. Stable companions GRAND OCCASION (12) and RANI TARABAI (13) have both drawn wide. The latter is 4kg better off with her stable companion given their last meeting and S’Manga Khumalo looks to be on the ‘right’ one of the pair. (Andrew Harrison: 8-9-11-13).

RACE 7

1 JAZZ FESTIVAL   5 MISSISSIPPI SPICE   2 VENDEDOR   7 SWORD SPEED

Summary: Wide open. JAZZ FESTIVAL (1) has been knocking at the door for some time now. He drops in class and although taking a corresponding rise in weight he does have the best of the draw. MISSISSIPPI SPICE (5) was a good second behind MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON (11) when last they met. The former is now 1.5kg better off and can turn the tables. VENCEDOR (2) showed up well at long odds first run out of the maidens. He has a much better draw this trim around and can go one better. SWORD SPEED (7) is back from a break but has two smart efforts to his name. He may just need it but cannot be left out of any exotics. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-2-7).

RACE 8

9 TALK TO THE MASTER   5 JP’S PALACE   13 CYMRIC   3 DYLAN’S CHAMP

Summary: TALK TO THE MASTER (9) has some smart Cape form to his credit and made a promising debut for his new stable. He can get Domini Zackey off the mark since his arrival in KZN. JP’S PALACE (5) has been consistent in the lower divisions but comes into the race off a light weight and first time cheek pieces. CYMRIC (13) has a wide draw to contend with but has been coming to hand slowly. He steps up in trip but looks primed. Peter Muscutt has been quiet locally with his recent focus on Cape Town but DYLAN’S CHAMP (3) made a smart debut first up for the stable and first time blinkers. He is smart on his day. MADISON VALLEY (7) made no show in the Betway Summer Cup but prior to that won well over a distance many thought would be too short. He has his first run for a new stable. (Andrew Harrison: 9-5-13-3).

RACE 9

5 CLEARTHERUNWAY   11 INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH   9 MISTER NIBBLES   4 COWDRAY PARK

Summary: Wide open. CLEARTHERUNWAY (5) has shown up well in two starts out of the maidens. He meets COWDRAY PARK (4) on 2.5kg better terms and can turn the tables although the latter is climbing the handicap slowly and has a chance of a hattrick. INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH (11) has his third run back after a spell in the Cape. He was a beaten favourite at his last two and can go one better. MISTER NIBBLES (9) started at long odds last run but showed up well behind MAGMA MAGIC (1) and is now 5kg better off in the handicap. HARUN AL RASHID (13) has a difficult draw to contend with but is useful on his day and this trip suits. (Andrew Harrison: 5-11-9-4).

RACE 10

5 COWBOY COUNTRY   11 DAPPER   2 CHICARITO   10 THE MARQUEE

Summary: COWBOY COUNTRY (5) shows promise and was not far back to much stronger last time out. He drops in class and should feature. CHICARITO (2) surprised on debut beating THE MARQUEE (10) who started at even longer odds. The Marquee has since franked that form. DAPPER (11) is long overdue another win. He has been trying further but may now prefer this trip. He has a claiming apprentice up with first time cheek pieces. THE MASK (9) has been runner-up and a beaten favourite at his last two but has gone up a further three points in the ratings. (Andrew Harrison: 5-11-2-10).

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newcastle (UK) – 15 February 2026

David Thiselton

 

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

 

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

 

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

 

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

 

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

 

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

 

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

 

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

 

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

 

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

 

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

 

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

 

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

 

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

 

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

 

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

 

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

 

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

 

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

 

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

 

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

 

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

 

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

 

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

 

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

 

Now on to the three-year-olds.

 

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

 

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

 

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

 

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

 

Likewise it will be tough for females.

 

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

 

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

 

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

 

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

 

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!

 

Soccer4 Sunday 15 February 2026. ADD-IN: R25 000. Estimated Pool: R100 000. Pool Closes at 19h00, Sport 19 Pool 3.